diff --git a/client/experimental_client_with_swig/output_grabber.py b/client/experimental_client_with_swig/output_grabber.py
index a62d6f056..ca9828149 100755
--- a/client/experimental_client_with_swig/output_grabber.py
+++ b/client/experimental_client_with_swig/output_grabber.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class OutputGrabber(object):
         and save the text in `capturedtext`.
         """
         while True:
-            char = os.read(self.pipe_out,1).decode(self.origstream.encoding)
+            char = os.read(self.pipe_out,1).decode(self.origstream.encoding, errors='replace')
             if not char or self.escape_char in char:
                 break
             self.capturedtext += char
diff --git a/client/experimental_lib/example_py/output_grabber.py b/client/experimental_lib/example_py/output_grabber.py
index a62d6f056..ca9828149 100755
--- a/client/experimental_lib/example_py/output_grabber.py
+++ b/client/experimental_lib/example_py/output_grabber.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class OutputGrabber(object):
         and save the text in `capturedtext`.
         """
         while True:
-            char = os.read(self.pipe_out,1).decode(self.origstream.encoding)
+            char = os.read(self.pipe_out,1).decode(self.origstream.encoding, errors='replace')
             if not char or self.escape_char in char:
                 break
             self.capturedtext += char